Scientists and researchers are constantly uncovering more information related to autism, offering insights into the origins, possible causes and even at times potential cures. I come across dozens of articles on a weekly basis, some of which seem more important than others. I thought I would share on a monthly basis stories that caught my eye.

~Maureen

New Findings on Probiotics & Autism

In a new study, researchers found that administering a common probiotic eased autism-like behaviors in mice that had low levels of this naturally occurring bacterium in their intestinal tract.

In an extension of an initial study conducted in 2009 at Boston University, nearly 25% of children born before 28 weeks of gestation showed signs of autism at age 2, and about 15% of those born between 23-24 weeks of pregnancy have autism, compared with 3.4% of children who are born at 27 weeks. Researchers have determined that infants born prematurely have a higher risk of autism and that this risk climbs the earlier a baby is born.

Pregnant women with elevated levels of certain immune molecules (interleukin-6) in their blood are at increased risk of having a child with both autism and intellectual disability, according to a new study. The findings suggest that autism in addition to an intellectual disability is a unique condition and that these mothers have a distinct immune profile.

Many people with autism report heightened sensory perception and may be acutely aware of sounds or of people or objects touching their skin. Researchers have theorized that this feeling of sensory overload might make social situations overwhelming and challenging to navigate based on a new study with mice. The mice lacking the autism-linked gene MeCP2 in only these touch neurons develop anxiety and social deficits later in life, the researchers found. Conversely, mice that lack MeCP2 in all of their cells except for these neurons show mostly normal social behavior and no signs of anxiety.